Being a Foreigner in Japan
...can be a very good thing... yet downright inconvenient at times when it really matter.
+ You get to practice your Japanese in different situations (aka people don't water down their speech for you)
...in convenience stores, in the mall, at the train station, on the street... basically, everywhere. Because of how I look, some of my friends and I are often mistaken by Japanese people as one of their own. It's nice at times to not be taken notice and paid attention to. I've learnt a lot about Japanese cultures just by being an 'invisible' bystander. Not looking foreign is also a really good thing when I'm feeling particular adventurous to test out my Japanese abilities.
- You have to explain why you can't understand simple Japanese (and why you need them to water down their speech and speak like talking to 5-year-olds...)
...in other words, I find myself trying to defend my dignity more than once. It's difficult, especially for older folks, to grasp that yes, despite looking quite like a Japanese, no, I'm actually a foreigner, and yes, I can say in fluent Japanese that I can't understand what you just said, and uh... yeah, that's the only fluent sentence I can say.
I finally figured out that it's easier to maybe let them hear you speak in English (either with a friend... or, worst case scenario, to yourself) to let them know that 'hey, possible gaikokujin here. Help, please!'
+ You get to try on Japanese fashion items without fear
I haven't actually done this myself, but a lot of my friends have found themselves adopting the Japanese way of wearing baggy-straight cut... slacks (?!! really, what do you call those long pants?) as well as Japanese makeup trends that emphasizes a lot on blush, eye liners, red lips, and let's not forget the eyebrow-length fringe, and are able to just blend in so well I wouldn't have been able to tell any different.
- You get weird looks for not dressing like everyone else
So it's almost summer here and Nishinomiya has been hitting a steady 80 degrees fahrenheit these few days and I've already given up on blending in with the crowd and have started wearing t-shirts and shorts to school.
Let's just say I've gotten a lot of weird looks on the way like, I know they're totally judging but it's so hot, I'm melting, and I really can't afford to care. It's either die of heat under judgment or die of heat comfortably... it's humid here so I'm not even kidding. I have to say, being in Chicago for two years have ruined me for Asian summers. Please come back, Winter!!!
- When you make a mistake, you don't get the immediate grace of 'ah, it's alright, you're foreign' but 'wow, that's so rude.'
Before coming to Japan, I had no idea that eating while walking is a huge no-no here. So you know, grabbing a piece of toast before running to class you usually see anime guys do? Don't do it. I've asked many of my Japanese friends about this particular rule and all I got was that it's a matter of 'morale'.
That being said, this 'rule' is less severe the more tourist-populated a place is. In smaller suburb places like where I am, however, the most you can see people doing on the street is drink water.
All these being said, I appreciate the (mostly) lack of attention I get when I go places. After all, my appearance is what makes me inconspicuous when I go on my once-a-weekly excursions to solely Japanese populated places.
Like, you've got to see some of these back alleys!! They're so aesthetically pleasing you won't even believe it!!
